(Credit: Imago)
John Victor looks to have emerged as West Ham’s leading target for the goalkeeper position in recent days.
The Hammers entered official negotiations for the Brazilian on Friday (1 August) after submitting a bid worth around £7million to Botafogo.
Victor is among several goalkeepers under consideration by West Ham, including Leicester City’s Mads Hermansen and Parma’s Zion Suzuki.
Graham Potter is hoping to welcome a new number one to the London Stadium this summer, with Alphonse Areola’s form last season flattering to deceive.
Botafago fans fume as Victor wants West Ham move
Victor has also attracted interest from fellow Premier League clubs Manchester United and Everton this summer.
The Brazilian will be seen as a shrewd signing if West Ham do get the move over the line, with the 29-year-old impressing for Botafogo since his arrival at the Brazilian club in 2024.
Accomplished on the ball and dominant in the air, Victor looks to be perfectly crafted for the Premier League.
| John Victor | Botafogo |
| Appearances | 85 |
| Clean sheets | 36 |
The goalkeeper impressed at the FIFA Club World Cup in June, winning the Player of the Match award in the round of 16 tie against Palmeiras, despite Botafogo’s exit.
Victor is a favourite among fans of the Brazilian club, but the recent news surrounding the former Santos man’s future has created an ugly situation.
Home fans at the Estadio Nilton Santos made their feelings known by booing their goalkeeper, who subsequently made a mistake leading to Botafogo’s 2-0 loss to Cruzeiro.
According to Alan Nixon (4 August), Victor has expressed his desire to join West Ham with the clubs locked in negotiations over a fee worth almost £10m.
But the 29-year-old has been told that he is due to appear in the second leg of Botafogo’s Copa do Brasil last 16 tie against RB Bragantino on Wednesday (6 August), with Fogo leading 2-0.
Therefore, with fans turning on the shot-stopper and the club not yet allowing him to leave, Victor could end up falling out with his current employers as he seeks a move to England.
https://x.com/COYIronscom/status/1952326207636218360
Victor would be a smart signing
Victor, perhaps, does not possess the high potential of Suzuki or the impressive highlight reel of Hermansen.
It would be easy to accuse West Ham of favouring the cheaper option of the three, with the former two likely attracting price tags more than three times larger.
But Victor’s underlying numbers are not to be sniffed at, and the Brazilian may well be exactly what Potter is demanding from his new number one.
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